Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial State Park is a park and national landmark in Truckee, California, with hiking and shoreline trails along Donner Lake. The lake sits at roughly 6000 feet (1800 m) elevation in the Sierra Nevada and is surrounded by forested mountain slopes.

The park honors a group of American settlers who became trapped in deep snow here in 1846. Many did not survive the winter, and their story became a turning point for later routes through the Sierra Nevada.

The on-site museum displays items and exhibits from the era when pioneers crossed the Sierra Nevada in the 1800s. Visitors see reconstructed cabins and learn how travelers protected themselves against cold and isolation.

Visitors can swim, boat, and fish at the lake, while in winter the area invites snowshoeing and skiing. The park offers campsites and picnic areas, and the trails are designed for different walking abilities.

A stone monument roughly 22 feet (7 m) tall stands where pioneers sought shelter and marks the snow depth in winter 1846. The memorial was built from Sierra Nevada granite and bears inscriptions with the travelers' names.

Location: Nevada County

Location: Placer County

Inception: 1928

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503

GPS coordinates: 39.32000,-120.24200

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25